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Determination of VOC emission rates and compositions for offset printing.

Wadden RA; Scheff PA; Keil CB; Franke JE; Conroy LM

School of Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 1994 Oct; :1-20

00233253

Emission rates and compositions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) were determined at three offset printing shops of different sizes. Air samples were collected for 12 one hour periods over 2 days on charcoal tubes at seven to 14 locations within each space. The tubes were extracted and analyzed by gas chromatography. Air flow was measured at each entry and exit point from each space. Plant-A was a small shop, plant-B was a medium size industrial in house shop, and plant-C was one print room of a large commercial company. Average VOC emission rates for plant-A ranged from 4.7 kilogram (kg) per day to 6.1kg/day. VOC emissions from plant-B ranged from 0.4kg/day to 0.9kg/day. For plant-C, VOC emissions ranged from 79 to 82kg/day. Emission composition was similar in all the shops and included benzene (71432), toluene (108883), xylene (1330207), ethyl- benzene (100414), and hexane (110543). Toluene concentrations varied about ten fold among plants. Small plants had less local exhaust capability which exacerbated workplace exposures to benzene and other toxic materials. Although catalytic incinerators destroyed some cleaning solvents which were evaporated into the room, a significant amount was released to the atmosphere. The authors conclude that their method applies to the printing industry and other surface coating operations.

NIOSH-Grant; Control-technology; Training; Printing-industry; Printing-inks; Organic-compounds; Printing-presses; Volatiles; Air-quality; Occupational-hazards; Chromatographic-analysis

Occupational and Environ Med University of Illinois 2035 W Taylor Street Chicago, Ill 60612

71-43-2; 108-88-3; 1330-20-7; 100-41-4; 110-54-3

19941030

Final Grant Report

7404259

Grant

1995

Grant-Number-T15-OH-07104

OEP

School of Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

IL

University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois